Light and Enzymatic Cooperative Response in Supramolecular Fibers: A Synergistic Strategy for Potential Drug Delivery Applications

Supramolecular Polymers (SPs) can undergo reversible self-assembly in response to internal or external stimuli. Design strategies based on the benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) core are gaining increasing attention. In this study, we describe a BTA amphiphile that self-assembles into supramolecular fibers in water and is able to respond to both light and enzymatic activity. An azobenzene moiety (AZB) and Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly amino acid sequence (GFLG) were incorporated into the BTA monomer skeleton to build three identical wedges that respond to light and Cathepsin B activity. The synergistic application of two orthogonal stimuli enabled modulation of the assembly of BTA-AZB-GFLG fibers through the cooperative response to stimuli. These findings provide new insights into the use of SPs for future drug delivery applications.